FAQ

We would first need a copy of your dog’s vaccine record before scheduling that appointment: we cannot hold a spot for you until those vaccines are verified. This is for your dog’s safety and health. Puppies under the age of 4 months must have a Bordetella and at least two rounds of their Distemper vaccine. Puppies and dogs over the age of 4 months must have a Bordetella, Distemper, and Rabies vaccine. We can either call your vet, or you can email us a copy at our email fantasticcaines@gmail.com.

We also require all dogs and puppies to be actively on a heartworm, and flea & tick preventive--this also includes a negative fecal exam at least 1 month before your dog's stay with us. Your dog's health and safety are a priority to us.

Yes, we do. We do not require dogs to be spayed or neutered to participate in our training programs.

Unfortunately, our business is not equipped to handle severe dog or human aggression. We will happily provide referrals upon request.

Since we are a small business, we keep our numbers small in order to ensure that your pup receives the best care and attention in training. We understand that training is a financial commitment and do everything we can to make it as valuable as possible. If you are thinking about or expecting to add a pup to your family, we highly encourage you to schedule the evaluation and consultation. If you have already gone through an evaluation and consultation, we highly encourage you to book your training appointment as soon as possible to secure your spot.

We apologize for any delays in response time. Our hours are Tuesday-Saturday between 8:00 AM and 6:30 PM; we do not respond to any inquiries after 6:30 PM. This is to ensure that both client dogs and the trainers get proper down-time and rest after a long work day. Please understand that we are human, just like everyone else.

If you have tried contacting us through email, make sure to check your spam or junk folder just in case.

We apologize for any inconvenience. Again, our training programs have limited spots in order to make sure each dog is receiving equal amounts of training and care. If you need training sooner than we can get you in, we will happily give referrals upon request.

As of November 2023, we are happy to announce that we have opened up a daytraining program known as "Fantastic Fitness". This program incorporates many activities such as training, walks, exercise, and supervised play to ensure that your pup is exhausted by the time they go home with you. Spots are very limited, so be sure to have evaluations scheduled and get on our calendar to ensure your spot!

Balanced training involves both positive and negative reinforcement/motivation. When using positive reinforcement, we are reinforcing a behavior and teaching the dog that we want them to keep doing it. Because of that, positive reinforcement is crucial when teaching dogs new behaviors. However, when a dog starts to show us that they have a clear understanding of a command, rule, or expectation, we need to hold our dogs to that standard. That’s when negative reinforcement (or motivation) becomes important. When known rules are broken, or ignored, there are consequences. We call those consequences “corrections”. It is then up to the dog to make the right choice (and get a reward) or the wrong choice (a correction). But we first have to teach the dog what the right choice is, in order for them to understand and perform the right behavior.

While we do utilizes training tools, we understand that they are not for everyone and every dog. We also acknowledge that each dog must learn at their own pace, in order to achieve maximum success. We won't force you or pressure you to use tools that you're uncomfortable with, and we will happily provide education to those that either aren't familiar with tools or simply want to know more.

It is extremely important for owners to find a trainer that not only works with them, but that the owner is also comfortable with them. If you’ve had an evaluation and consultation with us and decide we aren’t a good fit for you, that’s okay! We are happy to aid you in your search for the right trainer, and can provide referrals upon request.

We can guarantee that your dog will learn new behaviors and demonstrate that they understand those new behaviors with us, but we can’t guarantee that they’ll show you the same courtesy. That is up to you and your ability to put in the same amount of time and effort to work your dog. Dogs are not like cars or computers, we can’t install a new update, or install a new part, and have them working like new. Dogs, at the end of the day, are going to do what betters their situation. And it's up to owners to teach their dog that listening to them does better their situation; just like trainers do when they work with the dog. No one is guaranteed a diploma or certificate just because they attended school; they must do their homework and practice their skills in order to improve their craft.

As we’ve stated in our guarantee (which we don’t offer), when we don’t put in the time and effort to work our dogs, their behaviors will change accordingly. Dogs are always learning (what they can get away with, and what they can’t) so technically they’re always in training. When dogs go through a daytraining or board & train program, they are working one-on-one with a trainer for a good portion of the day, working on obedience and other manners. Trainers don’t wave a magic wand, and it’s not because “they’re good with dogs.” We work hard to build a respectful and engaging relationship with your dog, and teach your dog that we’re worth the effort and engagement; and we hold owners to the same standard. Training isn’t something you can cram for, it’s something that must be worked on everyday—like any skill or craft. So, if you’ve taken your dog through a training program and have seen progress, is the regression because training didn’t work? Or, did you not do your homework?

BOARD AND TRAIN

If you wish to cancel your board and train program prior to the start date, you will receive a refund of any payments you have made towards your training program. This refund will NOT include the fee for evaluations, the $600.00 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT taken for the Puppy Program, the $250.00 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT from the 2-Week On-Leash and Manners Program, the $300.00 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT from the 4-Week On-Leash and Manners Program and 4-Week Off-Leash Program, or the $400.00 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT from the 6-Week On-Leash and Manners Program at sign up.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Payments for individual private lessons are made at the end of each lesson; however, we do appreciate early notices rather than the day of.

If you have purchased a lesson package and wish to cancel our services, any unused lessons (within a 6-month time frame from purchase) will be refunded at our normal rate of $120/lesson (i.e. if you purchased a package of 3 lessons and only use 2, you would receive a refund of $60.)

FANTASTIC FITNESS (DAYTRAINING)

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance prior to the appointment. Please understand that because we take on a small amount of dogs, we need time to fill those spots. Any cancellations made less than 24 hours prior to the appointment will still be charged a fee of $50.00.